In Rasmussen’s poll, for some strange reason, Republican candidate Rob Maness was excluded and GOP state Rep. Paul Hollis, a recent entry into the race, was included.

    Now, there is another poll, which tells a different story. The interesting factor here is that the poll was commissioned by the GOP-affiliated Super PAC American Crossroads and conducted by Harper Polling.

    Harper Polling is a conservative polling firm founded by Brock McCleary, the former head of the Republican Party’s senatorial campaigning arm.

    With that preface, it was certainly good news for the Landrieu camp. The results were to a question  about whom you would vote for among the four candidates in an Open Primary. Rasmussen didn’t ask that question.

    The result was startling. The results: Landrieu 42%, Cassidy 29%, Maness 4%, and Hollis 4%, with 21% being undecided or refusing to state a preference.

    But what has Democratic leaders calling the poll “laughable” is the fact that Harper Polling says in a hypothetical runoff Cassidy leads Landrieu by one percentage point, or in other words, it’s a dead heat.

    That, they say, is hard to believe when a GOP poll has Landrieu with a 13-point lead in the primary, noting that only 37% of respondents chose a Republican candidate.

    The Maness camp is likely wondering how he dropped from 10% in a Southern Media and Opinion Research poll in November to 4% when he has been constantly campaigning around the state and has heavy support and endorsements from Tea Party and other conservative organizations.

    If the GOP poll is viable – it surveyed 922 likely voters in Louisiana – it appears that Landrieu has a shot of winning the Senate race in the primary, thereby avoiding what would be a bitter runoff battle.

    Not to worry. There will be many more polls with different results as the campaign progresses with something for everyone to like.

Clinton running the table

    Hillary Clinton is leading every single major Republican candidate by at least 15 points in a hypothetical 2016 matchup, according to a recent CNN/Opinion Research poll.

    Following his landslide re-election in 2013, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie had a slight lead over Clinton, but the controversy over the closing of the George Washington Bridge has taken it toll.  Clinton beats him 55-39%.

    Former Vice Presidential candidate and Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan does the best of the potential GOP candidates.  Even so, Clinton leads him, 55-40%.

    Others surveyed and the results included: Clinton 56%, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee 39%.  Clinton 57%, Kentucky U.S. Sen. Rand Paul 39%.  Clinton 57%, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush 37%.